Draisaitl feels healthy and is hopeful for the start of the 2026-27 campaign, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports Friday.
Draisaitl was limited to 65 regular-season appearances during the 2025-26 campaign, his lowest mark over a full season during his NHL career. After missing the final month of the regular season due to a lower-body injury last year, he returned for the start of the postseason and recorded points in each of the Oilers' six first-round matchups against Anaheim. Draisaitl said that Edmonton's first-round exit gave him additional time to recover during the offseason, and he hopes that new head coach Mike Babcock will help the team find additional cohesion during the 2026-27 season. Across his 65 regular-season appearances last year, Draisaitl generated 35 goals, 62 assists, 34 hits, 26 PIM and 15 blocked shots while averaging 21:35 of ice time, and he remains one of the league's top fantasy options heading into this year.